Spotted Lanternfly

Natural Habitat

Found on a wide variety of trees, including Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima), grapevines, maples, birches, willows, and other deciduous trees. Prefers vineyards, orchards, and forests, particularly in areas with its preferred host plants.

Diet & Feeding

Feeds on the sap of over 70 different plant species by inserting its piercing-sucking mouthparts into the plant stems. Its primary host is the Tree of Heaven, but it also feeds on cultivated plants like grapes, hops, and fruit trees.

Behavior Patterns

Adults are active flyers and jumpers. They excrete large amounts of honeydew, a sugary substance, which encourages the growth of sooty mold on plants and surfaces. They lay egg masses, covered with a mud-like protective coating, on various surfaces like trees, rocks, outdoor furniture, and vehicles. Nymphs hatch in spring and go through four instars before becoming adults in late summer.

Risks & Benefits

Potential risks: The Spotted Lanternfly is an invasive species in North America and poses a significant threat to agricultural crops, particularly vineyards, orchards, and logging industries. Its feeding can weaken plants, and the honeydew and sooty mold can reduce photosynthesis and fruit quality, leading to plant death. There are no known direct benefits to humans or the ecosystem in its invasive range; it is considered an economic and ecological pest.

Identified on: 9/23/2025